Yes, the .44 Magnum. At one time I did not own any smaller bored centerfires and could buy 180 grain cast .44 bullets from a local commercial caster less expensively than I could buy scrap lead. I fired thousands of them through .44 Magnums at about 750 fps. Except for concealed carry there's the substitute for a .38 Special. A .357 is a piss poor substitute for standard .44 Magnum loads and that is not even considering 300 to 320 grain .44 bullets. The biggest limit to .44 Magnum versatility, revolver size, has been partially mitigated by the availability of L frame .44 Magnums. While a Model 69 does not substitute for a J frame one is more versatile than a Model 686.
Is there a more practical & versatile cartridge than the .38/.357?
- Thread starter M3Stuart
- Start date
Wee Hooker
Member
Not for me there isn't. Love these calibers and the wheelguns that shoot them
That said, if only they made a 1911 in these venerable calibers, my life could be complete!
italiansport
Member
I give you what I think is a valid analogy here. The 38/357 combination is akin to a 12 gauge shotgun for it's particular discipline. You'll get factions that prefer other gauges but it's hard to argue that the will do anything better than a 12 gauge. I've said it before: If I could only own 1 shotgun it would be a 12 gauge magnum in probably an autoloader.
I have fired and re-loaded countless thousand of rounds of 38SPL over the years and I still derive a great deal of enjoyment shooting it out of one of my Colt or S&W revolvers.
Jim
I have fired and re-loaded countless thousand of rounds of 38SPL over the years and I still derive a great deal of enjoyment shooting it out of one of my Colt or S&W revolvers.
Jim
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amazingflapjack
US Veteran
John Taffin writes that if given 1 choice in a center fire rifle, he would choose a lever gun in 38/357. I agree.
Going out on a limb here. I nominate the .41 mag. This only holds true if you are a reloader. While you can buy .41 Special brass, simply downloading to 8-900 fps in magnum brass accomplishes the same thing. Only drawback is that it needs to go in a N frame. If S&W would build a L frame .41 Special that would handle loads up to maybe 1200 fps,that would be even better.
Fishinfool
Member
As a reloader, I'd go with the .44 Mag. From mouse fart light bullet target loads, to fast jacketed self defense use, it will do everything the .38/.357 will do with proper handloads. When it comes to deer sized game, and larger, the .44 Mag. is a definite step up. My big bore Smiths and Rugers are some of the most accurate handguns I own.
Larry
Larry
Goodtime Charlie
Member
IDK, I'll play devil's advocate here, and say yes, the 9mm Luger.
I know, the revolver can shoot more different bullet shapes and weights, but IMO the .38/.357 revolver rounds have kind of been superseded by the 9mm Luger semi-auto round. You can get standard pressure low velocity 9mm Luger ammo for target/plinking/small game, on up to hot +P and +P+ loads that rival or match 357 SIG semi-auto loads for velocity and energy. The 9mm Luger has replaced the .38 Spl as the most popular handgun round, IMO, and is available cheaper, and pretty much worldwide, and is chambered in revolvers, pistols, carbines and sub-machine guns. I believe that more research goes into developing new 9mm Luger bullets than any other, because right now that is where the bulk of the pistol ammo market is.
If you can kill it with a .357 Magnum, it can probably be killed with a 9mm Luger, too.
Don't hate me, I like 'em all.
I know, the revolver can shoot more different bullet shapes and weights, but IMO the .38/.357 revolver rounds have kind of been superseded by the 9mm Luger semi-auto round. You can get standard pressure low velocity 9mm Luger ammo for target/plinking/small game, on up to hot +P and +P+ loads that rival or match 357 SIG semi-auto loads for velocity and energy. The 9mm Luger has replaced the .38 Spl as the most popular handgun round, IMO, and is available cheaper, and pretty much worldwide, and is chambered in revolvers, pistols, carbines and sub-machine guns. I believe that more research goes into developing new 9mm Luger bullets than any other, because right now that is where the bulk of the pistol ammo market is.
If you can kill it with a .357 Magnum, it can probably be killed with a 9mm Luger, too.
Don't hate me, I like 'em all.
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Generally speaking, NO. The .44 spec / .44 mag comes close (as previously commented), but at a considerable increase in size, weight and cost. I would not deliberately go out after a big cat or bear with a .357 even with a really good load, but I wouldn't drop it and run if faced with such a critter and that is what I had with me.
I personally keep going back to the 356 GNR by Gary Reeder. A 41 magnum necked down to 357. Spitting out bullets at rifle velocities. I love it.
GNR Wildcat Cartridges
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GNR Wildcat Cartridges
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Here you can find such things (also for .44 and/or .45):
In Germany Lothar Walther they are known as "Reduziersysteme"
and in English:
1. Revolver barrel adapter Calibre .22l.r.
Lothar Walther
2. Despatcher for the smaller predators for revolver
Lothar Walther
P.44
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OP
M3Stuart
Member
Lots of great comments here!
Well, as long as this is America, we should never have to make the choice. But although I reload for 20+ calibers, and have many dozens of guns in many calibers, if I WERE limited to just one, I would agree that the 38/357 would be the one. I already have a great little model 92 Winchester clone that will handle either one flawlessly, and can pair it with everything from J frames through N frames, plus a bunch of Colts. I would feel pretty confident with any combination of those guns in the 38/357.
That does not stop me from having a lot of others, though.
Best Regards, Les
That does not stop me from having a lot of others, though.
Best Regards, Les
snowman.45
Member
I guess as an old retired cop who started with .38/.357 revolvers, I'm a bit prejudiced, but I believe they are the most practical and versatile. I've carried and shot everything from .38/.357 to 9mm to .40/10mm to .45 ACP to .44 Spec/.44 magnum and I really don't think there's anything that has a wider range of applications. I still have plastic pistols in other calibers but I find that I most often carry a 340 M&P or 640 loaded with BB 158+p FBI loads at 1000+ fps. or a 1911 in .45ACP (or both). I must be getting nostalgic. Lately, I keep finding myself buying more S&Ws in .357 mag.
Snowman.45:
10-4, I'm with you, brother!!! My most often carried EDC is my 340 PD, and next is the 340 M&P, followed by the 640-1 Pro Series. I use the 135 gr Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .357 Mag in all three.
Occasionally I will carry something else; I have dozens to choose from, but those three are my main choices.
Best Regards, Les
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snowman.45
Member
les.b; good stuff. I definitely like your choices for concealed carry. A man can never have too many revolvers. I'm trying to find a little of the GDHP-SB 135 .357 mag. to carry in my guns. I'm also about to get an old Model 60 .38 I bought new back from another retired buddy of mine whom I sold it to back in the 80's. He's finding it hard to carry a revolver these days and wants my Shield in 9mm. The way I see it, I can always get another Shield, but the old .38 60s are hard to come by.
DWalt
Member
Long ago I saw a Lothar Walther adapter kit to convert a Luger to .22 LR which belonged to a former boss. I did not fire it so I don't know how well it worked. It also involved a barrel liner with a sort-of nut at the muzzle to secure it in place. There was also a different blowback breech system and magazine. I have not seen a revolver adapter for .22. I would imagine they are quite expensive.
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Dave:
The 357 version of the 135 gr GDSB has been so hard to find, I've had some on backorder from Midway for like 9 months. I have several boxes in hand, but recently ordered some of the .38 +P version of the same cartridge. It comes in 50 Rd boxes for less than they charge for the 20 Rd boxes of the .357 version. Sometimes SGAmmo has it in stock, (just checked, they have it in stock now for $26.95 per box of 50), and I have found it at some of the other internet vendors as well. It doesn't have quite the velocity as the 357, but uses the same bullet, at almost as high a speed, supposedly 860 fps out of a two inch bbl. the .357 is somewhat faster, can't remember exactly how much, also from a two inch bbl.
Best Regards, Les
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snowman.45
Member
Thanks Les. I'm scouring the sporting goods stores and FFL's around here.
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